Windscreen wiper

ABSTRACT

A windscreen wiper ( 14 ) assembly includes a wiper arm ( 12 ) and a windscreen wiper having a resiliently flexible elongate beam ( 18 ) which is curved in a plane. The assembly also includes a coupler ( 16 ) for coupling an end of the wiper arm ( 12 ) to the wiper ( 4 ) in such a manner that resilient bending movement of the beam in the plane of curvature along its full length is substantially allowed. The invention also relates to a coupler for a windscreen wiper assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

This Invention relates to a windscreen wiper. More particularly, theinvention relates to a windscreen wiper assembly and to a coupler for awindscreen wiper assembly.

2. Description of the Related Art

WO-A-98/19 899 discloses a windscreen wiper assembly having a wiper arm,a windscreen wiper with a resiliently flexible elongate beam which iscurved in a plane, and a coupler for coupling an end of the wiper arm tothe wiper. However, with this prior art assembly the beam is tightlygripped and flexing movement of the beam in the coupler is inhibited.This impairs operation of the wiper.

Thus, according to the invention there is provided a coupler forcoupling an end of a wiper arm to a windscreen wiper having aresiliently flexible elongate beam which is curved in a plane,comprising

a support structure; and

a mounting means for mounting the support structure to the beam;

characterized therein that the coupler has at least one spacingformation carried by the support structure, engageable in use with anupper surface of the beam, for spacing the upper surface of the beam apredetermined distance from the support structure, thereby to provide aspace in which the beam can flex, in use.

The invention extends to a windscreen wiper assembly which includes awindscreen wiper having a resiliently flexible elongate beam which iscurved in a plane and a coupler in accordance with the invention engagedtherewith.

At least one spacing formation may comprise a fulcrum formation whichpermits, in use, bending movement of the beam about the formation in theplane of curvature.

Preferably there may be a pair of spaced spacing formations.

The support structure may have an elongate, substantially planar basewith the spacing formations being defined on a bottom surface of thebase. Each spacing formation may comprise an elongate protrusion locatedtransversely to the base end, in use, transversely to the plane ofcurvature of the beam. Each protrusion may have a rounded or sharpenededge to allow bending of the beam thereabout.

The mounting means may comprise two pairs of spaced apart claws whichextend from the base. Each of the spacing formations may be proximate oraligned with one of the pairs of claws.

The spacing between the upper surface of the beam and the bottom surfaceof the support structure may be sufficient to permit flexing, in use, ofthe beam.

The spacing between the claws of each pair may be substantially equal tothe width of the beam at that position in order to inhibit pivoting ortwisting of the beam about its longitudinal axis and to impede relativelateral movement.

The beam may have a securing formation complementary to one of the pairsof claws for securing the support structure to the beam so thatlongitudinal movement of the beam relative to the coupler at that pointis impeded. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that relativelongitudinal movement will be permitted between the beam and the supportstructure at the pair of claws spaced from the securing formation.

The coupler may thus be mounted to the wiper such that longitudinalmovement of the beam relative to a point on the coupler, rotation of thebeam about its longitudinal axis and rotation of the longitudinal axisof the beam relative to the longitudinal axis of the arm (known as fishtalling) are substantially inhibited.

The assembly may also include a connecting structure for pivotallyconnecting the end of the wiper arm to the wiper to allow pivotalmovement of the wiper arm relative to the wiper in the plane ofcurvature. It will be appreciated that the connecting structure may forma part of the coupler or of the arm or a combination of both.

It will be appreciated that the wiper performs better with a coupler inaccordance with the invention as the beam is able to flex about thespacing formations inside the coupler.

It will also be appreciated that the windscreen wiper assembly asdescribed above significantly reduces the height required between awindscreen and a vehicle bonnet in order to improve wind flow over thevehicle and allow the windscreen wiper assembly and arm to be hiddenbelow the vehicle bonnet.

It will be appreciated further that the invention has specificapplication to a low profile wiper and that the coupler is designed tominimise distance or space between the bottom surface of the supportstructure and the upper surface of the beam whilst still providingsufficient space for the beam to flex. It will also be appreciated thatthe distance or space is dependent on the distance between the spacingformations and will accordingly be larger when the spacing formationsare further apart to allow for bending movement of the wiper between thepoints of contact. A height dimension from a bottom edge of a rubberwhich is mounted to the beam of the wiper and the highest protrusion ofthe coupler may be less than 25 mm and preferably is less than 20 mm.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention now described, with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which;

FIG. 1 shows a schematic isometric view of a windscreen wiper assembly,in accordance with the invention, with the wiper shown in a straightenedcondition;

FIG. 2 shows a partially exploded view of the assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows an enlarged view of part of the assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows a sectional end elevation of the assembly of FIG. 3 takenalong the line IV—IV in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 shows a detailed view of part of a windscreen wiper which formspart of the assembly shown FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 shows a schematic isometric view of a coupler for a windscreenwiper assembly, in accordance with another aspect of the invention;

FIG. 7 shows a bottom view of the coupler of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 shows a sectional side elevation of the coupler of FIG. 7 takenalong the line VIII—VIII in FIG. 7.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the drawings, a windscreen wiper assembly, in accordance with theinvention, is generally designated by the reference numeral 10.

The assembly 10 includes a wiper arm 12, a windscreen wiper 14 and acoupler 16, generally indicated by reference numeral 16, for coupling anend of the wiper arm 12 to the wiper 14. The wiper 14 includes aresiliently flexible elongate beam 18 which is curved in a planeperpendicular to axis Z (as shown in FIG. 1). A rubber wiping strip 20is mounted to the beam 18.

Referring specifically to FIGS. 6 to 8, the coupler 16 comprises asupport structure 23, having an elongate, substantially rectangular,planar base 22. A height dimension H between a bottom edge 21 of therubber 20 and highest protrusion of the coupler 16, is preferably lessthan 25 mm. A mounting means in the form of two pairs of spaced apartclaws 24.1 and 24.2 extend from the base 22 of the support structure 23.A pair of fulcrum formations in the form of elongate impressions 26.1and 26.2 are located transversely to the base 22, each aligned with acorresponding pair of claws 24.1 and 24.2. Each impression 26.1 and 26.2has a rounded bottom edge 28 as can be seen in FIGS. 7 and 8. Thecoupler 16 may be formed of a rigid synthetic plastics material orsteel.

A pair of support sides 30 extend substantially transversely to the base22 of the support structure 23, with a pair of aligned openings 32defined in the support sides 30.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the assembly 10 also includes a connectingstructure 34 for pivotally connecting an end 36 of the wiper arm 12 tothe wiper 14. The connecting structure 34 includes a substantiallyplanar upper surface 38, with two substantially parallel sides 40depending downwardly from the surface 38. The sides 40 are spaced apredetermined distance apart so that they fit snugly between the supportsides 30 of the coupler 16, so as to prevent lateral movement androtational movement about the Y axis between the longitudinal axis ofthe arm 12 and the beam 18. An aperture 42 is defined in each side 40,the apertures 42 being aligned to the openings 32 for receiving atransverse pivot pin 44 for pivotally connecting the coupler 16 to thewiper arm 12.

The assembly also includes a nose piece 46 which covers part of thecoupler 16 and connecting structure 34.

The beam 18 is provided with a pair of indents 48 (FIG. 5), which iscomplementary to one of the pairs of claws, for securing the coupler 16to the beam 18 at that point so that longitudinal movement of the beam18 relative to the coupler 16 is inhibited at that point.

In use, the connecting structure 34 is attached to the end 36 of the arm12. The connecting structure 34 and the coupler 16 are connected to eachother by means of the pivot pin 44. The coupler 16 is positioned on thebeam 18 so that one of the pairs of claws 24.1 is aligned with theindents 48 on the beam 18, and distal ends 50 of the claws 24 are foldedover the beam 18, so that the rounded ends 28 of the fulcrum formationsabut an upper surface 52 of the beam 18 as is shown in FIG. 4.

The pair of claws 24.1 which is aligned with the indents 48, secures thebeam 18 in position at that point so that longitudinal movement of thewiper 14 relative to the coupler 16 is restrained. The other pair ofclaws 24.2 are folded over edges of the beam 18 but allows longitudinalmovement of the wiper 14 relative to the coupler 16 at that point.

In use, movement of the wiper assembly 10 relative to a windscreencauses the wiper 14 to move in the plane of curvature as it straightensand bends to accommodate various curvatures of the windscreen. Movementof the beam 14 in the plane of curvature is allowed by the fulcrumformations.

The applicant believes that the advantages of the wiper assembly 10 asdescribed with reference to the drawings, are that it allowssubstantially unrestrained movement of the wiper 14 in its plane ofcurvature and provides a low profile coupler 16 with its associatedadvantages. It will be appreciated that unrestrained beam bendingmovement is conductive to optimal force distribution performance. Thewiper assembly also significantly reduces the height required betweenthe windscreen and the vehicle bonnet, thereby improving wind flow overthe vehicle and allow the windscreen wiper assembly and arm to be hiddenbelow the vehicle bonnet.

What is claimed is:
 1. A coupler (16) for coupling an end of a wiper arm(12) to a windscreen wiper (14) having a resiliently flexible elongatebeam (18) which is curved in a plane, comprising a support structure(23); and a plurality of claws (24.1, 24.2) for mounting the supportstructure to the beam; characterized therein that the coupler has atleast one spacing formation (26.1, 26.2) carried by the supportstructure, engageable in use with an upper surface of the beam at acontact point, for spacing the contact point of the beam a predetermineddistance from the support structure.
 2. The coupler as claimed in claim1, characterized therein that at least one spacing formation comprises afulcrum formation which permits, in use, bending movement of the beamabout the formation in the plane of curvature.
 3. The coupler as claimedin claim 2, characterized therein that there are a pair of spacedformations.
 4. The coupler as claimed in claim 1, characterized thereinthat there are a pair of spaced spacing formations.
 5. The coupler asclaimed in claim 4, characterized therein that the support structure hasan elongate, substantially planar base (22), with the spacing formationsbeing defined on a bottom surface of the base.
 6. The coupler as claimedin claim 5, characterized therein that each spacing formation comprisesan elongate protrusion located transversely to the base and, in use,transversely to the plane of curvature of the beam.
 7. The coupler asclaimed in claim 5, comprising two pairs of said claws (24.1, 24.2)spaced apart and extending from the base.
 8. The coupler as claimed inclaim 7, characterized therein that each of the spacing formations isaligned with one of the pairs of claws.
 9. The coupler as claimed inclaim 1, characterized therein that it has a connecting structure (34)for pivotal connection to the wiper arm.
 10. A windscreen wiper assembly(10) which includes a windscreen wiper (14) having a resilientlyflexible elongate beam (18) which is curved in a plane and a coupler(16) for coupling the windscreen wiper (14) to a wiper arm (12), saidassembly comprising: a support structure (23); a plurality of claws(24.1, 24.2) for mounting the support structure to the beam; and atleast one spacing formation (26.1, 26.2) carried by the supportstructure, engageable in use with an upper surface of the beam at acontact point, for spacing the contact point of the beam a predetermineddistance from the support structure.
 11. The windscreen wiper assemblyas claimed in claim 10, characterized therein that the spacing betweenthe contact point of the beam and the support structure is sufficient topermit flexing, in use, of the beam.
 12. The windscreen wiper assemblyas claimed in claim 10, in which the support structure of the couplerhas an elongate, substantially planar base (22), with the spacingformations being defined on a bottom surface of the base and two pairsof said claws (24.1, 24.2), spaced apart and extending from the base,and characterized therein that the spacing between the claws of eachpair is substantially equal to the width of the beam at that position.13. The windscreen wiper assembly as claimed in claim 10, characterizedtherein that the beam has a securing formation (48) for securing thesupport structure to the beam in a manner to inhibit longitudinalmovement of the beam relative to the coupler at that position.